Theatre preview: The Merchant Of Venice, Poole

Friday 28 November 2008 19.01 EST
First published on Friday 28 November 2008 19.01 EST

Edward Hall's all-male ensemble, Propeller, has produced some of the best Shakespeare of the last decade, with heartbreaking productions of The Winter's Tale and Twelfth Night, and an award-winning A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is back on tour in the new year. Merchant is always a tricky proposition, but Hall should be more than able to crack it, and an all-male approach may well bring out the strong homoerotic element of the drama while casting further light on all the relationships. Hall's talent and Propeller were nurtured by the great Jill Fraser who, until her premature death, was artistic director at the Watermill Theatre, which continues to co-produce the company's work. They play the gorgeous, dinky venue next March.